White County

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Sparta, Tennessee - 8 schools

An equity score of 38/100 ranks White County #67 of 140 districts in Tennessee (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,771 per pupil, White County ranks #121 of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending (Tennessee districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,872
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$9,771
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

White County operates 8 public schools serving 3,872 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Tennessee. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in White County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,771 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 141 Tennessee districts by per-pupil spending. See how Tennessee compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.8% local, 53.8% state, and 24.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 38/100, ranked #67 of 140 in Tennessee against a state average of 38, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 395.5:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 11.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.3% White, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Findlay Elementary, with a diversity index of 24.1/100.

Its largest campus is White County High School, enrolling 1,014 students (27% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Bon De Croft Elementary, at 170 students, a 6x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

White County High School accounts for 26.2% of all White County student enrollment

That concentration means White County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

White County school enrollment varies 6.0× across entities

White County school enrollment ranges from 170 students (lowest) to 1,014 students (highest), a spread of 844 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

White County student-counselor ratio is 396:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

White County chronic absenteeism rate is 11.0% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

24.4%
Federal
53.8%
State
21.8%
Local

Funding Equity

38
Equity Score
67 / 140
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in White County.

White 91.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
African American 1.6%
Asian 0.6%
Multiracial 2.8%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 16.3/100

Average Simpson diversity index across White County's schools, below the Tennessee average of 38.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Findlay Elementary 24.1
  2. 2 Woodland Park Elementary 20.1
  3. 3 White County High School 19.9
  4. 4 White Co Middle School 19.6
  5. 5 Doyle Elementary 14.0

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
395.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
11.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in White County

School Enrollment
White County High School
1,014
White Co Middle School
827
Woodland Park Elementary
509
Findlay Elementary
413
Doyle Elementary
309
Northfield Elementary School
288
Cassville Elementary
206
Bon De Croft Elementary
170

How White County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Tennessee districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mcnairy County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Tennessee Public Charter School Commission Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Marion County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Gibson Co Sp Dist Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Weakley County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to White County's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Tennessee

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools
109,797 students · 222 schools · $13,650/pupil
Compare vs White County →
Davidson County
80,651 students · 161 schools · $15,421/pupil
Compare vs White County →
Knox County
60,609 students · 93 schools · $10,538/pupil
Compare vs White County →
Rutherford County
50,707 students · 51 schools · $10,141/pupil
Compare vs White County →
Hamilton County
45,902 students · 81 schools · $12,002/pupil
Compare vs White County →

Compare White County

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Memphis-Shelby County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in White County?

White County has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 6 combined. Total enrollment is 3,872 students.

How much does White County spend per student?

White County spends $9,771 per student. The district has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #67 in Tennessee.

What is the demographic composition of White County?

White County students are 91.3% White, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.6% African American, 0.6% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for White County?

White County has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #67 out of 140 districts in Tennessee.